Freshford United FC 1 Holt FC 2
HOLT INFLICT LEADERS WITH RARE LOSS
Brown Park, Freshford hosted the top of the table battle between Gooding Accounts Ltd sponsored-Trowbridge & District Football League, Second Division, leaders Freshford United and second placed Holt FC. The hosts may have suffered a rare defeat, but Chris Birleson’s side boast a 6-point lead over Nigel Tripp’s victorious Holt side who have played two more matches than the table toppers.
Holt who suffered a 6-1 drubbing in the previous meeting between the teams back in September have undoubtedly improved since then and against a Freshford side whose only previous loss came against Semington Magpies at the end of August, they showed that are more than capable of competing with the top sides.
Holt took the lead on 36 minutes, Kieran Plummer scoring from a Joseph Bakali-Laugton assist and that was how it remained until half time
Jordan Smith doubled Holt’s lead on 74 minutes and after that they had to withstand an onslaught from Freshford who threw everything at their guests looking for a way back into the contest.
Freshford were given hope when Ali Johnston pulled a goal back on 87 minutes to set up a frantic finale where Holt defended well and held their own during stoppage time to claim a hard fought for 3 points.
Aces FC 2 Trowbridge Town Tigers FC 2
TIGERS ROAR BACK TO CLAIM POINT AT ACES
Way back in September, Trowbridge Town Tigers thumped Aces FC 7-1 and in the return meeting at the University of Bath, Aces must have thought that after taking a 2-0 lead they would go on and complete a double over Tim Brown’s side, however that wasn’t to be the case as the Tigers roared back to claim a share of the spoils from a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Will Self gave Aces a half time lead which Alfie Little doubled early in the second period.
Trowbridge Tigers halved the deficit through a first goal of the season from Dave Sykes and they secured their point thanks to Sam Parker-Gale.
Bishops Cannings Reserves FC 2 Dilton Marsh Wanderers FC 3
CASSERLY’S ROCKET WINS IT FOR DILTON
When Dilton Marsh Wanderers FC hosted Bishops Cannings Reserves FC at the end of October they put 10 unanswered goals on their guests that day. The return match of the 4G pitch at Green Lane, Devizes was a lot closer and provided a thrilling game of football that was won by a stunning Adam Casserly strike that saw Dilton claim a 3-2 win.
Leo Griggs goal on the half hour gave Bishops Cannings a slender 1-0 half time lead.
Dilton Marsh Wanderers got themselves back on level in the 70th minutes courtesy of a Dan Bryce header. However Bishops Cannings regained the lead a minute later through Ethan Howard.
Dale Rowland held his nerve to score from the penalty spot and restore parity on 77 minutes before Dilton’s Adam Casserly thumped home a spectacular 25 yard wonder strike to seal all 3 points for the visitors, in a pulsating encounter that could have gone either way.
Semington Magpies FC 7 South Newton & Barford Hornets FC 1
LIGHTNING START HELPS MAGPIES TO HORNETS WIN
Semington Magpies who have enjoyed a great season to date claimed in the end what was a comfortable 7-1 triumph over what was a very determined South Newton & Barford Hornets side who after the opening 25 minutes were 4-0 down and had lost their keeper Ryan Lucie who suffered a fractured wrist.
The match was given the green light after some fantastic work by groundsman Martin Bray, with the pitch was in excellent condition.
It took just 5 minutes for the Magpies to take the lead. A poor back pass sent Spencer Frisby through and he finished well.
On 10 minutes a fantastic Tyler Dagger 25 yard free kick flew into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
Shortly after some neat work by Mutsim Ibrhim was ended when he was fouled in the box. Harvey Frisby stepped up to take the penalty was easily saved by keeper Lucie who was also alert to keep out the follow up, but in doing so injured his wrist.
On 14 minute Harvey Frisby won the ball back and his pass found Gavin Francis who finished well for 3-0. Joe Whiteman’s pass found Mutsim Ibrhim who added the Magpies fourth with just 20 minutes gone.
Things turned from bad to worse for the Hornets when they lost keeper Lucie in the 26th minutes when making a fine save to deny Ibrhim a second of the afternoon.
The away side started to come back into the game with replacement keeper Dan Brain saved well from Gavin Francis and Harrison Trevor while also having chances of their own.
The Hornets side started the second half the better and got there reward on 50 minutes when Matt Keel pulled one back to make it 4-1.
Magpies huffed and puffed but it took until the 65th minute to score again. Harvey Frisby beat four players before coming up with a fine finish to put the Magpies 5-1 up.
The 72nd minute saw a great ball from George York pick out Spencer Frisby who headed home his second of the game.
Two minutes from time, Joe Whiteman’s brilliant ball was taken in his stride by Harvey Frisby who’s pass found Gavin Francis who in truth was lucky to be on the field having avoided a red card late in the first half added his second and the Magpies 7th.
Great performance from stand in keeper Dan Brain for South Newton. Mutsim Ibrahim who was in unbelievable form for the Magpies.
Staverton Rangers FC 0 Calne Eagles FC 3
EAGLES END WINLESS RUN
Calne Eagles ended a seven match winless run with a 3-0 victory away at Staverton Rangers FC.
Eagles top scorer Evan McConnachie gave Tom Bull’s side a 1-0 half time lead.
Oliver Andersen bagged his first ever Eagles goal to double the lead and they win was wrapped up when the unfortunate Marcus Davies scored an own goal to make it 3-0.
The Stiffs FC 0 Hilperton Greyhound FC 1
NO FAIRYTALE END FOR STIFFS AT ST MARYS
In a time where there are huge shortage of pitches in Wiltshire and especially within the area of Trowbridge the County Town of Wiltshire, it was a sad day for The Stiffs FC who are many years of playing at St Mary’s Steeple Ashton played their final match at the venue on Saturday afternoon when they played hosts to Hilperton Greyhound FC.
Unfortunately for the home team the result didn’t go their way as they suffered a 1-0 defeat, Josh Propert’s first half strike being the difference between the two teams.
Fixtures For Saturday 10th February 2024
Calne Eagles FC vAces FC; Dilton Marsh Wanderers FC v South Newton & Barford Hornets FC; Holt FC v Hilperton Greyhound FC; Staverton Rangers FC v Freshford United FC; Trowbridge Town Tigers FC v Semington Magpies FC. Matches Kick-Off @ 2.00pm unless stated otherwise.